You will learn many different and exciting scientific principles in this year’s eighth grade science class and how to use a variety of skills in science and technology. Remember that science is not just a collection of facts to memorize and recite. It is a process that involves applying observations and intuitions to situations and problems, formulating hypothesis, drawing conclusions, and communicating.
You will plan and conduct research and experiments based on hypothesis and observations, evaluate what you have found, interpret and evaluate the results, and reinvestigate or redesign as necessary.
You will be taking the Science and Technology MCAS this year. In order to prepare you for this, the scientific and technological skills learned in class are broken down into three major areas; thinking skills, procedural skills, and application skills. Thinking skills: You will be evaluated on your understanding of concepts. This means that you will be required to recognize, evaluate, analyze, and explain natural scientific phenomena. You will use scientific reasoning to formulate hypothesis, analyze data, justify and defend a position based on evidence, evaluate the design of a technological device, and draw, communicate, and present conclusions based on scientific or technological evidence.
Procedural skills: You will be evaluated on your knowledge and understanding of scientific and technological procedures. This may include identifying the appropriate procedures and their correct sequence using scientific inquiry or engineering design process, recognizing correct or incorrect procedure, extending or modifying familiar procedures, identifying appropriate procedures or solutions for collecting data with accuracy and precision, and/or identifying appropriate tools for measurement, design, production, or other purposes.
Application skills: You will learn how to select appropriate scientific and technological concepts and procedures to solve real life and theoretical problems. For example: reading and interpreting graphs, charts, and/or maps, prototype development, and the creation of product design.
Subjects covered this year will include:
Earth Science (plate tectonics, changes in Earth over time, and geological time)
Physical Science and Chemistry (atoms and molecules, physical and chemical change, energy, periodic table)
Biology (reproduction of plants and animals, heredity, DNA, structure and function of cells, and evolution of life)
Technology: This is not just applicable to computers, but includes mechanical drafting and design, manufacturing, and production, communications. Technology will be used throughout the course I expect you to be responsible for your own learning.
It is your responsibility to come prepared to class with book, notebook, and pencil, study for tests and quizzes, ask questions, participate and to keep an organized notebook.
Please make up any missed assignments, labs, quizzes, and tests due to absence. You will need to arrange a day to stay after school for any missed labs, quizzes, or tests.
Unexcused late work will not receive full credit. Late daily homework will get half credit. Late projects will be five percent less per day past the deadline. Please notify me if you are having problems completing an assignment by bringing in a note from your parent or guardian.
Notebooks: Handouts are given frequently. Please use a three ring binder and a hole punch. New entries in notebooks should be dated. Homework should have appropriate titles, dates, textbook pages, and problem numbers.
Eighth Grade General Science
Course Overview
Ms Dwyer
Welcome to Eighth Grade General Science!
You will learn many different and exciting scientific principles in this year’s eighth grade science class and how to use a variety of skills in science and technology. Remember that science is not just a collection of facts to memorize and recite. It is a process that involves applying observations and intuitions to situations and problems, formulating hypothesis, drawing conclusions, and communicating.
You will plan and conduct research and experiments based on hypothesis and observations, evaluate what you have found, interpret and evaluate the results, and reinvestigate or redesign as necessary.
You will be taking the Science and Technology MCAS this year. In order to prepare you for this, the scientific and technological skills learned in class are broken down into three major areas; thinking skills, procedural skills, and application skills. Thinking skills: You will be evaluated on your understanding of concepts. This means that you will be required to recognize, evaluate, analyze, and explain natural scientific phenomena. You will use scientific reasoning to formulate hypothesis, analyze data, justify and defend a position based on evidence, evaluate the design of a technological device, and draw, communicate, and present conclusions based on scientific or technological evidence.
Procedural skills: You will be evaluated on your knowledge and understanding of scientific and technological procedures. This may include identifying the appropriate procedures and their correct sequence using scientific inquiry or engineering design process, recognizing correct or incorrect procedure, extending or modifying familiar procedures, identifying appropriate procedures or solutions for collecting data with accuracy and precision, and/or identifying appropriate tools for measurement, design, production, or other purposes.
Application skills: You will learn how to select appropriate scientific and technological concepts and procedures to solve real life and theoretical problems. For example: reading and interpreting graphs, charts, and/or maps, prototype development, and the creation of product design.
Subjects covered this year will include:
Earth Science (plate tectonics, changes in Earth over time, and geological time)
Physical Science and Chemistry (atoms and molecules, physical and chemical change, energy, periodic table)
Biology (reproduction of plants and animals, heredity, DNA, structure and function of cells, and evolution of life)
Technology: This is not just applicable to computers, but includes mechanical drafting and design, manufacturing, and production, communications. Technology will be used throughout the course I expect you to be responsible for your own learning.
It is your responsibility to come prepared to class with book, notebook, and pencil, study for tests and quizzes, ask questions, participate and to keep an organized notebook.
Please make up any missed assignments, labs, quizzes, and tests due to absence. You will need to arrange a day to stay after school for any missed labs, quizzes, or tests.
Unexcused late work will not receive full credit. Late daily homework will get half credit. Late projects will be five percent less per day past the deadline. Please notify me if you are having problems completing an assignment by bringing in a note from your parent or guardian.
Notebooks: Handouts are given frequently. Please use a three ring binder and a hole punch. New entries in notebooks should be dated. Homework should have appropriate titles, dates, textbook pages, and problem numbers.